Locus of control and gambling behavior among Chinese gamblers

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the link between locus of control and gambling behavior, and the mediating roles of specific gambling attitudes and motives of the relationship in particular. Over two hundred Chinese gamblers were randomly sampled and interviewed in the survey. All the gambling related measures were adopted from the GMAB scale. Findings showed that external locus of control positively predicted impaired control in gambling. Results of path analysis suggested that the positive association between the external locus of control and impaired control in gambling was mediated by the gambling attitude towards fate and luck, and the gambling motive in monetary gain. Implications of findings will be discussed.